How to Descale a Steam Iron: Self-Clean and Home Methods
updated 11 July 2026
Quick answer
Start with the self-clean function if your iron has one: fill the tank with water, heat the iron to maximum, unplug it, and press the self-clean button over the sink to flush out the scale. The home method is a weak citric acid solution that you steam out over a towel, then rinse through with clean water. White flakes flying out of the steam holes are the sign it's time.
Step by step
- 1
Start with self-clean
Fill the tank with water to the maximum level and heat the iron to its highest temperature. Wait until the indicator light goes out once or twice, then unplug the iron. Hold it horizontally over the sink, press and hold the self-clean or calc-clean button, and shake it gently - steam, hot water, and scale will come out.
- 2
Be careful during self-cleaning
The water and steam are scalding, so keep the soleplate pointed away from your hands. Continue until the tank is empty. If scale keeps coming out, repeat the treatment with another tank of water. Don't point the soleplate toward your face or hands, because the water bursts out suddenly along with hot steam.
- 3
The home method with citric acid
Dissolve a teaspoon of citric acid in a glass of lukewarm water (about 250 ml / 1 cup) and pour it into the tank. Heat the iron, switch on the steam, and steam the solution out over an old towel until it's nearly gone. Then fill the tank with clean water twice and steam it through to flush out the acid residue. Finish with a test run on an old cloth, ironing until no residue comes out of the holes.
- 4
Vinegar - with caution only
If you reach for vinegar, dilute it heavily (roughly 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water) and rinse the tank exceptionally well afterward. Vinegar can be harsh on internal components, which is why many manuals advise against it. Always check whether the manufacturer allows any additives in the water at all.
- 5
Clean the anti-calc rod and the steam holes
If your iron has a removable anti-calc rod or cartridge, take it out and soak it in vinegar or citric acid solution for about 30 minutes, then rinse it and put it back. Wipe the holes in the soleplate with a cotton swab, and gently lift dried-on scale with a toothpick - never with metal, so you don't scratch the soleplate. Wipe the outside of the soleplate with a damp cloth, and remove burnt-on marks with a cleaner made for iron soleplates.
- 6
Fill it with the right water
To slow scale buildup, use demineralized water mixed with tap water half and half. Pure distilled water is often discouraged, because some irons spit with it. After ironing, pour out the leftover water. Water standing in the iron between sessions speeds up scale buildup.
Self-clean step by step
The self-clean function is the simplest and safest route, because the manufacturer designed it for that exact appliance. The whole trick is that hot, pressurized steam pushes the loose scale out through the holes in the soleplate.
Do it over a sink or bowl, because dirty, boiling water comes out along with the scale. Afterward, wipe the soleplate with a damp cloth and iron a piece of old fabric to remove the last traces.
Citric acid or vinegar
Citric acid is gentler and odorless, which makes it a better choice for the inside of an iron than vinegar. The solution has to be weak and the rinsing thorough, because acid residue could stain the fabric you iron.
Vinegar works more aggressively, but it has an intense smell and can be too harsh on the seals and the metal parts inside. Treat it as a last resort and never leave it sitting in the tank.
What water to use in an iron
Hard tap water is the main source of scale. A half-and-half mix of demineralized and tap water limits buildup while avoiding the spitting that can happen with pure distilled water. You can make the mix yourself by combining bottled demineralized water with tap water in equal parts.
Check the recommendation in your manual, because some newer irons with a built-in anti-calc system are designed for plain tap water. A white crust on the steam holes or stains on your laundry are the sign that it's descaling time regardless.
Frequently asked questions
›How do I descale a steam iron?
The best way is the built-in self-clean function: fill the tank, heat to maximum, unplug, and press the self-clean button over the sink while shaking the iron. If your iron doesn't have it, steam a weak citric acid solution through it, followed by clean water.
›How do I descale an iron with a home remedy?
Dissolve a teaspoon of citric acid in a glass of water, pour it into the tank, heat the iron, and steam it out over an old towel. Then steam plain clean water through twice to flush out the acid. It's a cheap, effective method that needs no special products.
›How do I clean the inside of an iron?
The inside is cleaned by steaming a descaling solution through it, such as weak citric acid, and rinsing it out with clean water. If the iron has an anti-calc rod, take it out and soak it separately. Don't open up the housing or clean the inside mechanically.
›Can I descale an iron with vinegar?
You can, but carefully and only heavily diluted (about 1:3 with water), with very thorough rinsing afterward. Vinegar can be harsh on the seals and internal parts, which is why many manufacturers advise against it. Citric acid is safer.
›What water is best for an iron - tap or demineralized?
The best compromise is demineralized water mixed with tap water half and half - less scale and no spitting. Pure distilled water is often discouraged, and hard tap water quickly leaves deposits. Always check what the manual for your model recommends.